Great news! Mom is coming home tomorrow. She has surpassed all expectations and is talking, laughing and in general being herself. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes. I'm hoping she'll be online soon herself.

Fantastic news! Better than I'd dared hope! Thanks so much for letting us know, Jon. Your Mom has so many friends around the world, and we've all been thinking of her over these long months -- and will continue to do so! May her health continue to improve!

There is going to be a very special concert on the old hill tonight. Me and the trusty low D whistle are going to play to the heavens out on Graves Hill, as close as I can get to the stars in these parts, and it is going to be in honor of this great lady and friend!! I'll be out there about 11:00 PM Eastern US time playing in jubilation for Jean and her family. If any of you would like to join in, we could make it a worldwide chorus thanking whoever or whatever for the good fortune to bring our beloved lady home to her family. You just cannot keep this great heart down.

Congratulations, Jon and George and family, on getting your Mom and Wife back home. Know that we all love her and rejoice in her return to her loved ones. If you get a chance, give her a little peck on the cheek and tell her its from Mick. This is the best news we could get.

Jon, This is really fantastic news. We have all been praying for her. Hopefully we will be seeing her on August 29th at the picnic and singing party that Borderline will be presenting in her honor. We are all overjoyed that she has come this far and hopefully we may hear her sing and play again in the near future. Give her my best regards and to your dad as well.

You know, after a generally lousy day I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. Then I saw this news. Now I'm on cloud nine! This is just wonderful news! Thank you, Jon, for letting us know, Jon, and much love to Jean!

What great news on what was a truly lousy day! Jean has always had that magic about her and today was no exception. Great news indeed and I look forward to hearing from our friend right here on the threads.

I only just learned of Jean's condition after one of my (sporadic) e-mails to her bounced, then one to your Dad received no response. So it was bad news a few days ago (learning of this) then good news today reading your posting! So many people here in Britain love and appreciate Jean, and remember her performances and time here fondly. Plase wish her the very best from me and Lindsey. We hope for the best for America's greatest traditional voice. Fondest regards to Peter, Jon, and George.

Jean has, unknowingly to her, been a mentor of mine in the area of folk music for a good many years. So glad to hear of her continued improvement and homecoming. Best wishes for an even speedier recovery, Jean.

Thinking of Jean and her influence was a thread that went through most of the Dulci-More festival two weeks ago, with several performers talking about her.

In particular, Sally Rogers, in her introduction to a couple of Jean's songs, mentioned Mudcat and how people were keeping track here. I know there have been multitudes of good wishes coming from Ohio, and now perhaps some new Mudcat readers will have tuned in JUST in time to share the joy.

Love from Charlie and Lisa, and continued good wishes and healing prayers for fine-tuning your more complete recovery. We're sure being home will help, and look forward to the possibility of delivering smiles and hugs in person in the future.

My heart leaped with joy at this wonderful news! Jon, if you're checking email, please give love to Jean and George from me! I'm teaching in NYC in July, and if your mom is up for a visitor by then, I will bring the flowers myself. It makes me very happy to know you are all back home together.

How exciting is that news? I am in a Humanities class in college, Appalachian Studies. I was grappling about how best to understand the Appalachian region of southeastern Kentucky. My instructor gave an exam that was pretty indepth and I couldn't figure out how I was gonna pull it all together so I hit the web. In my initial search, Jean Ritchie's name appeared. I was doubtful that I had hit gold in my research and I quickly learned that I found the diamond! What an absolutely amazing lady, family, friend! You guys inspire me to move mountains. I am awestruck and ever inspired to be more, do more, see more, say more and live more. The music has moved me. It is so peaceful and tranquil. It is so in a word, "reassuring". It is confident, telling and inspiring. I only wish I knew more about the lady, the young girl that was situated in a family of 14 children. I would love to know more about life in the mountains, the inspiration for the music, the love of family, hard times,good times, anything. My research paper is only beginning to fall into place. It would be complete if I heard from friends, family or anyone that knows Jean that can share a tale or two with me for my paper! I look forward to hearing from anyone. You can blog or you can email me at Northern Kentucky University harrettb1@nku.edu. So gracious and I wish you a speedy recovery Jean. You've got God's work still to do! God Bless you and keep you in palm of his hand!

Belinda: You do not make it clear whether you have found her autobiography, _Singing Family of the Cumberlands_, which last I heard was still in print. If not, that's a good place to start seeing more. Not a dull page in it.

Joy, joy, joy. Don't know how I missed this when Jon posted over a month ago, but I couldn't be more delighted to find this news on one of my very infrequent visits to Mudcat. Love and blessings to you, Jean, and great gratitude that you are back home with your family. Thank you, Jon, for sharing this wonderful news.

clicking on recordings and videos from the home page just resulted in a 'page not found' message. But then I went into itinerary, and clicked them again and they worked. continued best wishes to Jean Derek

I just read a thread on this forum where Jean added some information. She is a wealth of knowledge, and I hope she is getting better every day. Can we get some updated news about how she is doing now that it is nearly October?

(the thread was about the song the young man who would not hoe (raise) corn)

I am sorry for the loss of George Pickow. My name is Alan Abbey and I am the author of a daily online column, The Eulogizer, which runs on JTA.org, the website of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. I write about Jews who have passed away recently, and I was hoping you could help me confirm whether your husband was Jewish. I don't need to know - nor do I care - whether he was a "practicing" or believing Jew or whether he was an atheist or Orthodox. If he was born and died a Jew, his story is one that I will write about. I know it his life was fascinating - I have read several articles about him. But none said whether he was Jewish or not.

Please, when you can, let me know, and feel free to share any particular memories of him if you would.

I just received the following information, originally sent by Nancy Solomon, the director of Long Island Traditions and a neighbor of Jean and George.

Based on the discussion about the passing of George Pickow, I thought I should update you about Jean Ritchie. After over 50 years of living here in Port Washington, Jean has returned to her family in Kentucky, living in Berea. However, shortly after she moved in early May, she fell and hurt her hip, so she's now in a rehab facility, and will hopefully return to Berea in a few weeks. Her son Jon is going down to Kentucky for the summer, and he can fill you in on her progress.... The house is almost on the market, pending some zoning approvals from the village. Feel free to call or write if there's any other information I can provide. And we're all grateful that Jean's papers are at the Library of Congress.

That's about all I know at this time. Perhaps Jon can provide an update if he reads this.